US4575022A - Reel to reel tape drive device - Google Patents
Reel to reel tape drive device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US4575022A US4575022A US06/592,556 US59255684A US4575022A US 4575022 A US4575022 A US 4575022A US 59255684 A US59255684 A US 59255684A US 4575022 A US4575022 A US 4575022A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- belt
- drive
- reel
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G11—INFORMATION STORAGE
- G11B—INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER
- G11B15/00—Driving, starting or stopping record carriers of filamentary or web form; Driving both such record carriers and heads; Guiding such record carriers or containers therefor; Control thereof; Control of operating function
- G11B15/60—Guiding record carrier
- G11B15/66—Threading; Loading; Automatic self-loading
- G11B15/67—Threading; Loading; Automatic self-loading by extracting end of record carrier from container or spool
Definitions
- the present invention pertains to reel to reel magnetic tape drive devices for use as peripherals in storing or transmitting information, and more particularly, it pertains to such devices which are driven by an endless drive belt which frictionally engages both the supply reel and the take-up reel.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,923 to Lewis discloses a tape transport wherein an endless belt is used to drive a magnetic tape between a supply reel and a take-up reel in a generally arcuate path and past a read/write head which is generally centered between the reels.
- the supply reel is movable into and out of frictional engagement with the drive belt which is driven by means of a drive pulley located between the reels adjacent to the read/write head.
- the driving mechanism comprises an endless belt which frictionally engages both the supply reel and the take-up reel causing the tape to be transferred between the reels along a tape feed path which is located adjacent to a fixed read/write head.
- the endless drive belt is formed of a visco-elastic material which is stretched so that even with a fixed drive pulley and fixed idler pulleys supporting the drive belt, the drive belt will be maintained in tension about such pulleys with the supply reel both out of engagement and in circumferential engagement with a reach of the drive belt.
- the viscoelastic properties of the drive belt also permit this belt to maintain a generally constant amount of tension on the tape as it is moved from one reel to the other at different driving speeds. By maintaining constant tension the the spacing of the tape feed path and the read/write head is maintained constant in order to preserve the integrity of the data transferred between the tape and the read/write head.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an end portion of a tape drive assembly embodying the invention illustrating the supply reel in its loading, non-operative position.
- FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the FIG. 1 tape drive assembly generally taken in the plane of line 2--2 with the top housing cover broken away and the assembly partially shown in section and the supply reel being shown in its non-operative position.
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the supply reel in its loaded, operative position in engagement with the drive belt.
- FIG. 3A is an exploded diagrammatic view of the major components of the tape drive assembly of the present invention.
- FIGS. 4 and 5 are sections taken on lines 4--4 and 5--5, respectively, of FIG. 3.
- FIG. 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 3.
- FIG. 7 is a top plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 7--7 of FIG. 6, showing the stripper finger for stripping the tape leader from the supply reel.
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged section taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 3.
- FIG. 9 is an enlarged section taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 2.
- FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 10--10 of FIG. 9.
- FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 11--11 of FIG. 2.
- FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the control circuitry for the tape drive assembly of the present invention.
- FIG. 3A The basic structural arrangement for the tape drive assembly 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3A.
- a supply of tape 50 is arranged to be driven between a supply reel 13 and a take-up reel 12 by an endless drive belt 25 which peripherally frictionally engages the tape on both reels.
- the drive belt is mounted by five idler pulleys 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 and by a drive pulley 41.
- the tape is driven between the reels along a generally arcuate path so that it passes adjacent a read/write head 53 where information can be read off the tape or transferred to the tape in the conventional manner.
- the speed of the drive belt 25 (and hence the tape 50) is monitored by a tach disc and tach sensor assembly provided on the drive shaft 44 which is arranged to be driven by a DC servo-motor 33 and suitable motor controller circuitry (not shown).
- the motor 33 is a variable speed motor so that the tape can be driven at different speeds to accomodate different data transfer rates.
- the tape drive assembly 10 will be seen to include a housing 11 for the tape take-up reel 12, that remains in the housing, and for the tape supply reel 13 that is precisely insertable into the housing on a movable carrier 14 and that is removable from the housing on the same carrier.
- the latter comprises a closure plate 15 pivotably carried by the housing at 16 so as to swing between an open position (FIG. 2) and a closed position (FIG. 3).
- FIGS. 1 and 2 show the carrier as having an axle or pin 16a onto which the supply reel 13 is removably received and axially rotatably supported.
- Reel 13 has a central hub 17 about which the magnetic tape is arranged to be wrapped.
- FIG. 1 shows the housing end wall 20 to include an opening 21 which closure plate 15 covers when it is pivoted upwardly to its closed position.
- a latch for the closure includes a solenoid 22 mounted to a housing inner wall and having a plunger 22a with a mechanical latch thereon.
- switch arm 24 FIG. 1
- the solenoid 22 When the closure is electrically energized, by activation of switch arm 24 (FIG. 1), the solenoid 22 will be energized to displace plunger 22a out of locking engagement with keeper 22 b on the closure plate to release the closure and allow it to be automatically opened by the drive belt tension exertion on the tape reel 13 pushing it outwardly. See, for example, in FIG.
- the endless drive belt 25 is located so as to arcuately frictionally engage the tape rolls 50a, 50b on the two reels 12 and 13, respectively, for rotating the reels and effecting tape transport.
- supply reel 13 When supply reel 13 is in its fully inserted position, as seen in FIG. 3, a substantial circumferential portion of the outer winding of tape roll 50a will be engaged by the drive belt, and, in response to endwise travel of the belt, the tape will be fed off on its arcuate path as shown in FIG. 3.
- the hub of take-up reel 12 is wrapped by the drive belt, and, as the tape is fed onto reel 12, the outer winding of the tape will be received.
- Reaches 25a and 25b of the belt thus are bowed to the tape rolls 50a and 50b, as is clear from FIG.
- the drive belt is entrained about guide rollers or pulleys which direct the belt in close proximity to the reels. These include idler pulleys 27-31 and drive pulley 41. Belt reach 25c travels between idler rollers 27 and 29, and belt reach 25e travels between idler rollers 30 and 28. Intermediate the belt reaches 25c and 25e is a pair of short reaches 25d which travel between idler pulleys 29 and 30 and wrap partially about an intermediate idler pulley 31 to provide a space (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for the drive elements including DC servomotor 33, motor output shaft 33a, and a drive pulley 34 attached at the upper end of shaft 33a.
- the drive belt engages only the protective Mylar surface of the magnetic tape 50 and does not contact the data surface of the tape which passes adjacent to the read/write head 53 as the tape is moved in its arcuate tape feed path between the reels 12 and 13. Thus, there is no irritation to the data surface due to the drive which could affect data integrity.
- This material has a relaxation time or relaxation constant as provided by the standard stress relaxation test (ASTM D2991-71) of 8-10 seconds, and, in accordance with the present invention, it is desired that the relaxation constant be greater than two seconds in order to achieve the desired results.
- the relaxation constant is measured as the time required for the stress of the material to decay to 36.8% (1/e) of its final steady state value after the application of a constant strain to the material.
- the belt material can be prepared by cutting it from a flat sheet and stretching it while applying heat until the desired size with the desired tension characteristics are achieved. This requires that the material be brought into the upper flat portion of the force-elongation curve (static) where the force is generally a constant maximum value to produce varying elongations. This requires stretching of the material to roughly 150-300% of its initial value.
- the tension on the tape determines the spacing of the tape from the read/write head which is essential for data integrity. Also, the viscoelastic properties of the belt provide belt dampening preventing fluttering of the tape as it is driven by the read/write head.
- the belt should preferably have a dynamic belt modulus defined as the product of A ⁇ E in the range of from about 60 to about 150 ounces wherein A is the cross sectional area of the belt during operation and E is Young's modulus of the belt at the point or region at which the belt is elongated.
- the tension in the drive belt is maintained between the unloaded (FIG. 2) and loaded (FIG. 3) positions of the supply reel 13.
- the pulleys 27-31 and 41 supporting the drive belt can be fixed in position in the housing 11, and the drive belt remains in tension to keep it in place on the pulleys in the relaxed unloading position where the reach 25a of the belt is unbowed (i.e., it is significantly shorter than when the supply reel is loaded).
- the pulleys 27 and 28 are supported on axles 27a and 28a, respectively, while pulleys 29, 30 and 31 are supported on axles 29a, 30a and 31a (FIG. 3), respectively, via bearings supported for rotation to develop a predetermined amount of friction acting as drag opposing endwise travel of the belt, thereby to develop pre-determined tension in the belt and in the tape being transported between the reels (1-3 ounces in the tape, static tension, with two ounces providing optimum results).
- Such tension serves to rotate the reels and the tape thereon with positive drive coupling in each of the two directions of tape travel.
- drag is developed in belt reach 25a as drive pulley 41 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3 to positively drive supply reel in tape take-up mode; and similarly, drag is developed in belt reach 25b as drive pulley 41 is rotated clockwise to positively drive take-up reel 12 in its take-up mode.
- a stripper finger 54 is pivotably mounted in the housing and projects to a position adjacent the outer tape winding on supply reel 13.
- the finger is adapted to be received under the tape leader 49 (FIG. 7) as the tape pack 50a is rotated on the supply reel 13 under the urging of the drive belt 25.
- the finger serves to strip the leader free of the tape pack as the reel rotates in a tape supply direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 3).
- the finger tapers toward an apex 54a (FIG. 7) that initially strips the leader free of the tape pack so that the leader is then deflected by the concave surface 54b of the finger to pass adjacent guide roller 51 and toward a concave inner wall surface 44' of the housing.
- the leader then travels adjacent surface 44' which curves generally back toward the periphery of the take-up reel 12. In so traveling, the leader passes adjacent the inwardly concave surface 56a of an arm 56 pivoted at 57 to the housing wall.
- the free end of the arm carries a guide roller 58 acting to feed the tape leader onto the hub of reel 12 for capture as that reel is rotated by the drive belt reach 25b initially engaging its hub. Capture of the leader may be effected in the manner described in prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,923 to Lewis.
- a torsion spring 59 acting on arm 56 urges it and the roller 58 toward reel 12, the roller penetrating between the reel flanges.
- a torsion spring 54a urges stripper finger 54 toward reel 13, as described in said U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,923.
- the reels 12 and 13 may have constructions as
- the magnetic tape is narrower than the leader at the end thereof which leader is gripped by the reels to properly feed the tape onto and off of the reels in a centered position.
- the supply reel is constructed to provide capture of the leader between a pair of flexible annular projections 60 and 61 that grip the opposite edges of the tape leader. The annular projections flex outwardly in response to such gripping whereby the tape pack 50a is maintained centered on the hub of the supply reel spaced from the protective flanges extending inwardly from the projections 60, 61.
- annular projections on reel 13 serve to capture the leader to enclose and confine the tape wrapped about the central hub thereof.
- Similar annular projections on take-up reel 12 serve initially to capture the stiff leader feeding onto that reel by flexing outwardly slightly, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 11.
- FIG. 12 illustrates, in block diagram form, the control system for the tape drive assembly of the present invention.
- the reversible DC servomotor 33 is driven in response to current input from power drive circuits 70.
- the latter is, in turn, controlled by servo-circuitry 71 having an input from the tachometer sensor device 46 and an input from a microprocessor 80 which controls the velocity of tape transport between the reels and also the direction of such transport (by direct control of power drive circuits 70).
- Sensing of the speed of the drive pulley 41 and of the consequent speeds of the drive belt 25 and tape 50, for motor speed control, is effected via tachometer sensor device 46, best seen in FIG. 9.
- the latter serves to pass a light beam 76 (FIG. 9) normal to the plane of a tachometer disc 77 that is mounted on the upright shaft 44 (FIGS. 9 and 10).
- the disc 77 contains a circular array of through openings 78 which are equally angularly spaced to repeatedly interrupt the light beam as the disc rotates.
- a beam detector 79 provides a square wave signal output for counting purposes and to provide a rate output proportional to the rotary speed of the drive pulley and thus to the linear speed of the tape. This signal is transmitted to the servo circuitry 71 so that the driving speed remains constant.
- the microprocessor 80 sends its control function signals (channel select and write enable) to the read/write circuitry 83 which interfaces with the read/write head 53.
- control function signals channel select and write enable
- the microprocessor receives control imputs from and outputs status information to the interfacing circuitry 81 which interfaces with the host or user system.
- the read/write data from the circuitry 83 is transferred directly between the circuitry blocks 81 and 83 as shown. Conventional end and start of tape signals are sensed (by means not shown) and circuitry 82 provides this information to the microprocessor 80.
- control information is provided by a spring 91 (FIG. 4) which is adapted to receive and register with a raised axial projecting portion 90 on the top of the supply reel 13.
- the control information is provided to the microprocessor 80 by means of a strain gauge or other sensor associated with spring 91 (not shown) which serves to indicate that the supply reel is in position to feed tape to the read/write head 53.
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- Controlling Rewinding, Feeding, Winding, Or Abnormalities Of Webs (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (15)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/592,556 US4575022A (en) | 1984-03-23 | 1984-03-23 | Reel to reel tape drive device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US06/592,556 US4575022A (en) | 1984-03-23 | 1984-03-23 | Reel to reel tape drive device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US4575022A true US4575022A (en) | 1986-03-11 |
Family
ID=24371160
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US06/592,556 Expired - Fee Related US4575022A (en) | 1984-03-23 | 1984-03-23 | Reel to reel tape drive device |
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US (1) | US4575022A (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0610194A4 (en) * | 1991-03-01 | 1994-01-10 | Athana Inc | Tape cartridge drive belt having a low ratio of static to dynamic friction. |
US5374004A (en) * | 1992-08-25 | 1994-12-20 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Low-friction, belt-driven tape cartridge |
US5649672A (en) * | 1994-06-15 | 1997-07-22 | Imation Corp. | Motor control of tape tension in a belt cartridge |
US5785268A (en) * | 1995-04-07 | 1998-07-28 | Sony Corporation | Tape cartridge with tape tension differential attenuating tape guide arrangement |
US5850316A (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1998-12-15 | Sony Corporation | Tape cartridge and driving system having rotation detection unit for drive roll to maintain constant contact pressure with the capstan roll |
WO1999012161A1 (en) * | 1997-09-02 | 1999-03-11 | Verbatim Corporation | Data storage device integrating magnetic tape and drive |
US10997998B1 (en) * | 2020-06-24 | 2021-05-04 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Tape embedded drive with tied spindle structure |
US10998008B1 (en) | 2020-06-19 | 2021-05-04 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Interface connector for tape embedded drive |
US11170823B1 (en) | 2020-06-09 | 2021-11-09 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Tape embedded drive with multiple feedthrough connections |
US11295771B2 (en) | 2020-06-18 | 2022-04-05 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Head positioning assembly for tape embedded drive |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3692255A (en) * | 1971-06-17 | 1972-09-19 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Belt driven tape cartridge |
US3907230A (en) * | 1972-08-21 | 1975-09-23 | Schlumberger Inst System | Tape drive system |
US4054923A (en) * | 1976-04-26 | 1977-10-18 | Interdyne Company | Belt driven tape transport with re-positioned reel |
US4274608A (en) * | 1979-06-04 | 1981-06-23 | Microcomputer Systems Corp. | Tape transport |
US4342809A (en) * | 1980-06-24 | 1982-08-03 | Newell Research Corporation | High-friction, low-elasticity drive belt for tape cartridges |
US4465248A (en) * | 1981-12-07 | 1984-08-14 | Rosso Corporation | Tape drive mechanism |
US4466564A (en) * | 1981-09-14 | 1984-08-21 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Belt for belt-driven recording tape pack |
-
1984
- 1984-03-23 US US06/592,556 patent/US4575022A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3692255A (en) * | 1971-06-17 | 1972-09-19 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Belt driven tape cartridge |
US3907230A (en) * | 1972-08-21 | 1975-09-23 | Schlumberger Inst System | Tape drive system |
US4054923A (en) * | 1976-04-26 | 1977-10-18 | Interdyne Company | Belt driven tape transport with re-positioned reel |
US4274608A (en) * | 1979-06-04 | 1981-06-23 | Microcomputer Systems Corp. | Tape transport |
US4342809A (en) * | 1980-06-24 | 1982-08-03 | Newell Research Corporation | High-friction, low-elasticity drive belt for tape cartridges |
US4466564A (en) * | 1981-09-14 | 1984-08-21 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Belt for belt-driven recording tape pack |
US4465248A (en) * | 1981-12-07 | 1984-08-14 | Rosso Corporation | Tape drive mechanism |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0610194A4 (en) * | 1991-03-01 | 1994-01-10 | Athana Inc | Tape cartridge drive belt having a low ratio of static to dynamic friction. |
EP0610194A1 (en) * | 1991-03-01 | 1994-08-17 | Athana Incorporated | Tape cartridge drive belt having a low ratio of static to dynamic friction |
US5374004A (en) * | 1992-08-25 | 1994-12-20 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Low-friction, belt-driven tape cartridge |
US5649672A (en) * | 1994-06-15 | 1997-07-22 | Imation Corp. | Motor control of tape tension in a belt cartridge |
US5850316A (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1998-12-15 | Sony Corporation | Tape cartridge and driving system having rotation detection unit for drive roll to maintain constant contact pressure with the capstan roll |
US5785268A (en) * | 1995-04-07 | 1998-07-28 | Sony Corporation | Tape cartridge with tape tension differential attenuating tape guide arrangement |
WO1999012161A1 (en) * | 1997-09-02 | 1999-03-11 | Verbatim Corporation | Data storage device integrating magnetic tape and drive |
US11170823B1 (en) | 2020-06-09 | 2021-11-09 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Tape embedded drive with multiple feedthrough connections |
US11495270B2 (en) | 2020-06-09 | 2022-11-08 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Tape embedded drive with multiple feedthrough connections |
US11295771B2 (en) | 2020-06-18 | 2022-04-05 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Head positioning assembly for tape embedded drive |
US10998008B1 (en) | 2020-06-19 | 2021-05-04 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Interface connector for tape embedded drive |
US10997998B1 (en) * | 2020-06-24 | 2021-05-04 | Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Tape embedded drive with tied spindle structure |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: INTERDYNE COMPANY, MILPITAS, CA A CA CORP Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:ALLWINE, ELMER C. JR.;GILOVICH, PAUL A.;REEL/FRAME:004316/0967 Effective date: 19840518 Owner name: INTERDYNE COMPANY, A CA CORP,CALIFORNIA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:ALLWINE, ELMER C. JR.;GILOVICH, PAUL A.;REEL/FRAME:004316/0967 Effective date: 19840518 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: LUPIEN, WILIAM A., Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:INTERDYNE COMPANY;REEL/FRAME:004469/0053 Effective date: 19850717 |
|
REMI | Maintenance fee reminder mailed | ||
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees | ||
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 19900311 |